Crystal Palace misses Benteke for 6 weeks

Crystal Palace striker Christian Benteke has been ruled out for at least six weeks due to a knee ligament damage, manager Roy Hodgson said on Friday. Already, Winger Wilfried Zaha has not recovered from his knee injury in time for Palace’s visit Manchester United in the English Premier League on Saturday. Chelsea loanee Ruben Loftus-Cheek will also miss the trip with a thigh strain. “He’s (Benteke) got ligament damage which will keep him out for a minimum of six weeks,” Hodgson told a news conference. “We don’t think he’ll be…

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My take on Nigeria@57

The object of re-structuring for which there is a widespread clamour among Nigerians, is not to break up the country or to enable agitators to secede from its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Far from that, the object is, by reforming the governmental structures and attuning them to the needs and wishes of the people, to ensure that the immense diversity of ethnic nationalities comprised in the state will continue to co-exist together in peace, prosperity and progress as citizens of one country united by common interests, common aspirations and a…

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Mysterious illnesses hit US diplomats in Cuba

The US State Department has ordered more than half its Embassy staff and all diplomatic family members to leave Cuba because of a mysterious “specific attacks” that have caused myriad health problems to 21 diplomats. Only those who carry out the main U.S. diplomatic and consular duties, including providing emergency assistance to American travelers in Cuba, will stay at the embassy in Havana, officials said. The State Department issued an advisory for Americans not to visit Cuba, although no tourists or other travelers have been affected by the still-unexplained attacks,…

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Obiano inherited N185bn debt from Obi – Umeh

Ahead of the November 18, Anambra governorship election, former National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Director-General Willie Obiano Campaign Organisation, Chief Victor Umeh, said in Awka yesterday that Governor Willie Obiano inherited a whooping N185 billion from his predecessor, Peter Obi. Umeh alleged that Obi collected N50 billion as security vote for the eight years of his reign. He pointed out that all the claims by the Obi’s camp that he left N75 billion for Obiano were mere political talks, stressing that, in actual fact, whatever Obi…

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Two microfinance banks get smart certification

Two micro finance institutions, Grooming Centre and Fortis Microfinance bank, have been given the Smart Certification for client protection. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Smart certification provided an independent, objective seal of confidence that a financial institution is doing everything it could to treat its clients well and protect them from harm. The Smart campaign began in 2008 when a group of microfinance industry leaders came together to launch a campaign that established the Client Protection Principles. To put the principles into action, the Smart campaign…

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Fraud: Edo sacks perm sec. suspends others

The Edo state Government has sacked Dr. Osayuware Idahosa, Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Youth and Special Duties, over allegation of padding the budget for the conduct of primary school examination. The government also announced the suspension of three officials involved in the alleged scandal, which was put at N283 million. The decision announced by the Commissionrr for Communications and Orientation, Mr Paul Ohonbamu, was the outcome of an extraordinary session of the State Executive Council. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Governor Obaseki vowed to…

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IPOB leader not in military custody – DHQ

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has denied having the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu, in its custody. The DHQ said on Friday that it has no knowledge of the whereabouts of the IPOB leader. Defence spokesman, John Enenche, who addressed journalists in Abuja stated that DHQ cannot be held responsible for the missing IPOB leader. He also denied that military invaded the country home of Kanu’s in Abia State. He said: “I watched the operations live. I also got first hand information from our men on…

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